Lungworm in dogs
If you suspect your dog has lungworm, contact your vet today. This is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires prescription treatment — not all standard wormers are effective.
In the next 60 seconds
- If your dog is showing signs of difficulty breathing or has collapsed, treat as an emergency and go to your nearest open vet or emergency clinic immediately.
- If your dog is coughing persistently or you notice unexplained bleeding or bruising, call your vet today — do not wait and see.
- Keep your dog calm and rested — exertion worsens breathing difficulty.
- Do not attempt to treat with over-the-counter wormers — most standard wormers (e.g. those containing fenbendazole alone or praziquantel/pyrantel combinations) do NOT treat Angiostrongylus vasorum. Prescription products are required.
- At the vet, be ready to describe: your dog's worming history and which product is used, whether your dog eats slugs or snails, recent outdoor access, and when symptoms began.
- If your dog is bleeding from multiple sites or severely unwell, emergency hospitalisation and supportive care (blood transfusion, plasma) may be required.
Recognise the signs
- Persistent cough — especially in an otherwise young, healthy dog
- Difficulty breathing, rapid breathing, or respiratory distress
- Abnormal bleeding — nosebleeds, blood in urine or faeces, bruising under the skin, prolonged bleeding from minor cuts (the worm disrupts the clotting cascade)
- Neurological signs — seizures, wobbliness, or behavioural changes (larvae can migrate to the brain or spinal cord)
- General malaise — lethargy, reduced appetite, weight loss
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Eye abnormalities — bleeding within the eye
- In severe cases, sudden collapse or sudden death
First aid steps
- If your dog is showing signs of difficulty breathing or has collapsed, treat as an emergency and go to your nearest open vet or emergency clinic immediately.
- If your dog is coughing persistently or you notice unexplained bleeding or bruising, call your vet today — do not wait and see.
- Keep your dog calm and rested — exertion worsens breathing difficulty.
- Do not attempt to treat with over-the-counter wormers — most standard wormers (e.g. those containing fenbendazole alone or praziquantel/pyrantel combinations) do NOT treat Angiostrongylus vasorum. Prescription products are required.
- At the vet, be ready to describe: your dog's worming history and which product is used, whether your dog eats slugs or snails, recent outdoor access, and when symptoms began.
- If your dog is bleeding from multiple sites or severely unwell, emergency hospitalisation and supportive care (blood transfusion, plasma) may be required.
Do NOT
- Do NOT use standard over-the-counter wormers and assume your dog is protected — many do not cover lungworm.
- Do NOT wait to see if symptoms resolve on their own — lungworm can be fatal if untreated.
- Do NOT delay if you see unexplained bleeding or bruising alongside a cough — coagulopathy (clotting failure) is a medical emergency.
- Do NOT allow your dog to eat slugs or snails, even while your vet investigates symptoms.
While transporting to the vet
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When to phone the vet immediately
- Breathing difficulty, blue or pale gums — emergency, go immediately
- Collapse or loss of consciousness
- Active seizures
- Severe or uncontrolled bleeding from any site
- Any sudden deterioration in a dog being treated for lungworm
Common causes
- Ingestion of infected slugs or snails — deliberately eaten or accidentally swallowed in grass, water bowls, or on toys left outside
- Ingestion of infected frogs, which can also carry Angiostrongylus vasorum larvae
- Drinking from puddles or outdoor water sources contaminated with slug/snail slime
- Dogs snuffling through wet grass — larvae can be released into slime trails
What you'll need
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What the vet will need to know
- Which wormer does your dog currently receive and how often?
- Does your dog eat slugs or snails or spend time in wet grass?
- When did coughing or other signs begin?
- Any recent bleeding, bruising, or clotting problems?
- Any neurological signs — wobbliness, fits, behaviour changes?
- Where in the UK do you live? (Prevalence varies — highest in SE England, Wales, and SW England)
- Vaccination and travel history
Aftercare
- Complete the full prescribed course of treatment — licensed products include Milbemax (milbemycin oxime + praziquantel), Advocate (imidacloprid + moxidectin), and NexGard Spectra.
- Dogs with coagulopathy may require hospitalisation, plasma transfusions, and vitamin K therapy.
- Follow up with your vet as directed — repeat Baermann faecal testing or blood tests may be recommended.
- Once treated, protect against reinfection with monthly prescription lungworm prevention.
- Prevent access to slugs and snails — remove outdoor water bowls overnight, bring in toys and bowls, supervise outdoor time in damp conditions.
Prevention
- Use a monthly prescription product that covers Angiostrongylus vasorum — Advocate, Milbemax, or NexGard Spectra. Discuss with your vet which is most appropriate.
- Standard wormers and flea treatments do NOT prevent lungworm — check the product data sheet or ask your vet.
- Remove outdoor water bowls, toys, and food bowls overnight to prevent slug/snail contamination.
- Discourage your dog from eating slugs and snails — this can be challenging but supervision and recall training help.
- Particularly important in the UK during wet weather (spring and autumn) and in high-prevalence areas: SE England, Wales, SW England, and increasingly across the UK.
- Regular vet health checks and annual faecal screening in high-risk dogs.
Breed-specific notes
- Dogs that are particularly keen on foraging, snuffling, or eating unusual items (e.g. Labradors, Spaniels, terriers) are at higher risk due to behavioural tendency to ingest slugs and snails.
- Young and rescue dogs with unknown worming histories are especially vulnerable.
- No breed is immune — any dog with outdoor access in the UK is potentially at risk.
Frequently asked questions
Does my dog's regular wormer protect against lungworm?
Probably not, unless it specifically states it treats Angiostrongylus vasorum. Many common wormers (e.g. Drontal, Panacur alone) do not cover this parasite. Products that do include Advocate (spot-on), Milbemax (tablet), and NexGard Spectra (chewable tablet). Always check the label or ask your vet.
How common is lungworm in the UK?
Lungworm was once considered primarily a condition of SE England and South Wales, but its range is expanding northward. It is a genuine and increasing risk across the UK. Wet weather increases slug and snail populations, elevating exposure risk, particularly in spring and autumn.
My dog just ate a slug — what should I do?
A single episode of slug ingestion is not necessarily an emergency, but it represents a risk. Contact your vet, who may recommend a preventative dose of a lungworm-active product. If your dog is already on monthly prevention, maintain the schedule. Monitor for coughing, bleeding, or neurological signs for several weeks.
Can cats get lungworm?
Cats can be affected by a different lungworm species (Aelurostrongylus abstrusus), which is spread via prey animals (birds, rodents). It is less commonly life-threatening than the dog form but can cause coughing and breathing difficulty. Treatment is available — speak to your vet.
What does lungworm treatment involve?
Treatment uses a prescription antiparasitic effective against Angiostrongylus vasorum, typically Advocate or Milbemax. Dogs with severe disease may need hospitalisation for supportive care including oxygen therapy, IV fluids, blood products for coagulopathy, and anticonvulsants for neurological signs. Recovery from mild to moderate disease is generally good with prompt treatment.
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